A Plethora of MGMT Covers

You know how every year there are a few songs that EVERYBODY feels the need to cover? In the past, such songs have included Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" and Rihanna's "Umbrella." Lately, I've been seeing a lot of MGMT covers. Even though "Oracular Spectacular" has been out for over a year, it's only recently started to hit the mainstream. Thus, Katy Perry and Weezer have felt inclined to put their stamp on "Electric Feel" and "Kids," respectively. As expected, the Katy Perry one sucks and the Weezer one is passable. Also I'm throwing in a cover of "Electric Feel" that a bunch of sophomores did at my school's talent show.

Electric Feel (MGMT cover)- Katy Perry

Under the Covers #2

Some covers for Easter! Enjoy.

Live Your Life (T.I. feat. Rihanna cover)- Just Jack: The British singer-songwriter (who reminds me of Jack Penate to no end) did a pretty good job covering T.I./Rihanna's summer hit. He brings the tempo down but does his best to rap. The results are surprisingly not-awful. Probably just because his accent is cute. Whatevskis.
Live Your Life (T.I./Rihanna cover)- Just Jack

Every Breath You Take (Police cover)- Frankmusik: I posted about new electronic/dance artist Frankmusik one or two weeks ago and since then I've discovered this cover of the Police classic. I'm not sure I like it enough but it's a pretty original take with a strong 80's vibe.
Every Breath You Take (Police cover)- Frankmusik [MediaFire link]

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding (Elvis Costello cover)- Chris Cornell: While Chris Cornell's latest album, "Scream," is a laughable collaboration with Timbaland, it's important to remember that Cornell actually was an actual artist with actual talent. I love this cover of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding," which is arguably my favorite Elvis Costello song (and that is a close race, let me tell you).
Peace, Love, and Understanding (Elvis Costello cover)- Chris Cornell

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Smiths cover)- Death Cab for Cutie: Covering the Smiths is a risky business indeed. Morrissey's voice is so integral to the band's sound that hearing another voice sing his music oftentimes sounds so wrong I just need to shut it off. That being said, I actually really enjoy this cover of "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" by Death Cab for Cutie. It's interesting because as I would say that Morrissey's voice is necessary for the Smiths, Ben Gibbard's voice is equally essential to Death Cab's sound.
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths cover)- Death Cab for Cutie

Speaking of covers, I'll be posting a review of the new Tera Melos cover EP, "Idioms Vol. I" so stay tuned!

Rivers Cuomo & Rainn Wilson Collaborate...Sort of...

Rainn Wilson (Dwight from the Office) has great taste in music, as evidenced by many comments on his Twitter account and via interviews. He and Rivers Cuomo got together to cover Joan Osbourne's "One Of Us." I think it's funny that they're dubbing it a duet because all Rainn does is play the bongos. Some other guy (who is not credited, poor soul) does all the guitar work. Anyway, it's not a terrible cover. Thoughts?

One Of Us- Rivers Cuomo & Rainn Wilson

Also, I think it's worth noting that if Cuomo and Wilson got together for a band they could call themselves Rivers & Rainn. Suhweeeeet.

Free Faaaaaallin'!

I love Tom Petty, so, DUH, I love "Free Fallin'". Here are some great covers of that song for no particular reason. Enjoy!

Under the Covers

I've been listening to a lot of covers lately, so I thought I'd post some good ones here. Click to play/download.

Time to Pretend (MGMT cover) by Gareth Pearson- This cover could not be more different from the original. Rather than a trippy synth-heavy disco, Pearson unravels a flowing acoustic strain bearing no resemblance to MGMT's jam save for the melody.
Time to Pretend (MGMT cover)- Gareth Pearsons

Kodachrome (Paul Simon cover) by Conor Oberst- It always surprises me to hear Conor Oberst sing a happy song, but he pulls it off wonderfully with this Paul Simon classic.
Kodachrome (Paul Simon cover)- Conor Oberst

Changes (David Bowie cover) by Seu Jorge- "The Life Aquatic" is one of my favorite movies, and I LOVE its soundtrack, mostly because of all the Seu Jorge Bowie covers.
Changes (David Bowie cover)- Seu Jorge

When You Were Young (Killers cover) by the Noisettes- This cover sticks pretty closely to the original, save for some adapted lyrics in the bridge, but I like the lead singer's vocals a lot. I've never listened to the Noisettes except for a single every now and then, but this makes me want to get into them.
When You Were Young (Killers cover)- The Noisettes

The Killers Cover Bright Eyes. No, Really.

Wowza. This is one cover I never would've predicted. The Killers do David Bowie? Sure. The Killers do Springsteen? Yeah, fine. The Killers do U2? Duh. The Killers do Bright Eyes? Whhaaaa?!??!?!?

Yeah. Brandon Flowers & Co. have recorded a cover of Bright Eyes's "Four Winds." Let me rephrase: The Killers, who make epic disco rock, covered the song "Four Winds," by Bright Eyes, who make alternative bluegrass country jams and trembling ballads.

The thing is, I actually really, really like it. The Killers transformed "Four Winds" from a rollicking, violin-heavy country tune to a spacey dance track.

ORIGINAL.

COVER:

Jojo's "Too Little Too Late" Gets Covered!

Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen recently released an acoustic take on teen starlet Jojo's 2006 pop slow-burn, "Too Little Too Late." In the true Cat Power/Sun Kil Moon tradition of recording stripped-bare covers that are hardly recognizable from their pop and rock originals, Rossen's take is an moodily-buoyant acoustic jam with trembling vocals and layered harmonies. Rossen's perceived sincerity is funny when you note Jojo's feigned emotional distress of the original music video (linked above).

Apparantly, the cover was a birthday present to bandmate Edward Droste, who requested that Rossen sing the corny ballad with completely genuine emotion.

Download it here